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I'm experiencing difficulties while reading East of Eden. I have little motivation to pick it up recently. I am ambivalent about the constant biblical references and imagery but I'm also not that invested in the story itself. I find it quite dull and boring frankly. One good aspect is that it is well written.

At this point I’m forcing myself to finish. My first instinct to DNF last year was correct. I am not enjoying it at all.

....

How many times does Murakami uses the phrase “for the time being”?

I believe I’m at the point where I abandoned this book the first time last year. I still think it’s juvenile in tone at times (balls and cock) but I’m going to stick with it. Don’t know how I completely feel yet so we shall see. So far I would give it 3 stars.

Attempt #2 and so far getting along better than first time.

It’s quite ineffective to portray Cathy as a snake in the Garden of Eden. It would have been more shocking if she was cast as a genuine human being. Then her evilness would have a greater state of mind. Otherwise it takes on characteristics of a horror story.

Argh, Steinbeck has such disparaging depictions of women. Either you’re a woman noted solely by your housekeeping skills or you’re a whore. I’ve read many people comment on the character of Cathy. Let’s see what she does.

The first chapter is excellent! My heart was pounding the entire time.

The most horrible account of the Ukrainian famine. I read about it before but not in so much detail. People crawling to Kiev. Soldiers and government ignoring their cries. Cannibalism.

“Women forced other women into concubinage. The camps created a new, absurd breed of women: bull dykes with hoarse voices, women with bold gestures and long male strides, women who wore trousers that they tucked into soldiers tarpaulin boots. At their sides were their lost, pathetic chicks.”

“In some strict-regime camps the women had not seen a mans face or heard a mans voice for many years. There were occasions when carpenters, metalworkers, and drivers were sent into these sinister places - and torn apart, tortured to death.”

Phenomenal!!

Off to a good start. I’m really in the mood for some soviet literature.

At roughly the halfway mark and characters/groundwork is still being laid. I’m eager to move along and get the story going! Hmmm.

“Stay at least three meters from the object of your desire and the chances that things will get out of hand are considerably reduced.”

She finds men her own age repulsive, when their balls hang down and look like fossilized turtle heads.

Off to a crazy start. Vernon is a lovable loser. There is some funny stuff here. Interested to see where this heads.

When you know nothing, you have many reasons to keep silent. Language exposes you to other people. It commits you to visions of the world you may not trust.

OK, things just started to get weird and I don’t know what the hell is going on anymore.

I’ve been hesitant to read this since it was originally published in hardback. I wasn’t sure if it would be something I would enjoy. But after hearing many glowing reviews I decided to get a copy. I’m still early in but so far the writing is good although I am not a fan of music to the extent expressed here.

Similarly to Jude the Obscure, the social conventions of marriage is shown in a most unflattering light. Poor Anna. Forever scorned for he me decision to leave her husband and child.

I think I’ve gotten to the point that the numerous coincidences of characters meeting are becoming annoying and make the story implausible. This reminds me of the end of A Fine Balance.

The build up of tension to revelation of THE EVENT is insane. My heart is pounding fiercely. My palms are sweating.